Circuit and method for regulating a voltage

ABSTRACT

A circuit regulates a voltage by controlling a voltage generator. A voltage divider is coupled between the regulated voltage and a supply voltage, and generates a sense voltage. A clamp circuit is coupled to the divider, and reduces the sensitivity between the supply voltage and the regulated voltage by substantially prohibiting the voltage across itself from exceeding a predetermined value A detector circuit is coupled between the divider and the voltage generator, and provides a control signal that deactivates the generator when the sense voltage reaches a first predetermined threshold, and activates the generator when the sense voltage reaches a second predetermined threshold.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/485,093, filed Jun. 7, 1995, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,215.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to electronic devices and more specifically to a circuit for regulating a voltage. In one aspect of the invention, an integrated device such as a memory circuit may incorporate the regulator circuit to regulate a voltage that the device generates internally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many integrated devices incorporate circuitry to generate a regulated voltage from external power source for internal use in the device. For example, an electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) may incorporate such a circuit or internally generating a programming voltage from an external supply voltage. Or, a memory device such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and other types of integrated circuits may include such circuitry for internally generating from an external supply voltage a substrate or back bias voltage to adjust the thresholds of field-effect transistors (FETs) formed in the substrate. Such internal voltage generation often reduces the number of external supply voltages that the integrated device requires for operation.

Typically, such generation and regulation circuitry includes a voltage generator, such a charge pump, and a voltage regulator that maintains the internally generated voltage at a predetermined voltage level or within a predetermined voltage range. For example, the regulator may activate the generator when the voltage is not at the predetermine level or is outside the predetermined range, and may deactivate the generator once it drives the voltage to the predetermined level or within the predetermined range.

It is often desirable to design an integrated device such that it can operate over a relatively broad range of supply voltages. For example, it may be desirable to design a DRAM that can operate from a supply voltage ranging from approximately 3 to 6 volts.

Some existing voltage regulation circuits can maintain the regulated voltage at a substantially fixed level over the range of external supply voltages within which the integrated device is operational. Such regulation circuits, however, often require a stable reference voltage and associated comparison circuitry. The circuitry that generates the stable reference and the associated comparison circuitry often have a substantial number of components that occupy a relatively large area of the integrated device.

Other existing voltage regulation circuits have a minimum number of components, and thus occupy a minimum area of the integrated device. The level at which the regulator maintains the generated voltage, however, is often sensitive to changes in the supply voltage. That is, the level of the regulated voltage shifts as the supply voltage varies. Such shifts in the regulated voltage are often undesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a circuit is provided for regulating a voltage by controlling a voltage generator. A voltage divider is coupled between the regulated voltage and a supply voltage, and generates a sense voltage. A clamp circuit is coupled to the divider, and reduces the sensitivity between the supply voltage and the regulated voltage by substantially prohibiting the voltage across itself from exceeding a predetermined value A detector circuit is coupled between the divider and the voltage generator, and provides a control signal that deactivates the generator when the sense voltage reaches a first predetermined threshold, and activates the generator when the sense voltage reaches a second predetermined threshold.

According to another aspect of the invention, the voltage divider includes a plurality of load elements that are serially coupled between the regulated and supply voltages, such that junctions or nodes are formed between consecutive pairs of the elements. The sense voltage is tapped from a selected one of the junctions. The clamp circuit includes a first clamp terminal that is coupled to one of the junctions and a second clamp terminal that is coupled to another of the junctions disposed between the selected junction from which the sense voltage is tapped and the regulated voltage, or that is coupled to the regulated voltage.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the clamp circuit is coupled between a pair of nodes chosen from the selected junction, the regulated voltage, and those of the junctions that are disposed between the selected junction and the regulated voltage.

According to still another aspect of the invention, the clamp circuit is coupled across the load element that is coupled to the regulated voltage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a memory device in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the voltage regulator of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a schematic of the preferred embodiment of the regulator of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of a portion of a substrate of the memory device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the improved voltage regulation provided by the regulator of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is another graph showing the improved regulation provided by the circuit of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a memory device 10 that is designed and operates in accordance with the present invention, although the present invention could be used with other types of integrated devices. In one aspect of the invention, memory 10 is a DRAM. Memory 10 includes control circuitry 12 that is coupled to address, control, and data buses to receive address, control, and data signals from external circuitry (not shown), such as may be found in a computer system (not shown). Memory 10 also includes an array 14 of storage or memory cells for storing data, and a voltage generation and regulation circuit 16 that provides an internal voltage V_(INT) from an external power supply voltage V_(CC). V_(INT) may be used for a variety of purposes, including as a programming voltage in a memory 10 that contains electrically programmable memory cells, or as a back bias voltage for biasing a substrate in which field-effect transistor are formed to set or adjust the transistors' threshold values. The internal generation of such a voltage often allows memory 10 to run from a single external supply voltage as opposed to multiple external supply voltages.

The regulation circuit 16 includes a charge pump 18 that generates V_(INT) in response to an activate/deactivate signal that it receives at its control terminal 19. A regulator circuit 20 monitors V_(INT) and generates the activate/deactivate signal in response to the level thereof.

In operation, control circuitry 12 receives the address, control, and data signals on the respective buses, and in accordance with these signals, reads and writes data from and to memory-cell array 14. Additionally, control circuitry 12 provides signals to activate and otherwise control the regulation circuit 16.

When control circuitry 12 activates the regulation circuit 16, the charge pump 18 begins either increasing or decreasing (depending on whether V_(INT) is positive or negative) V_(INT) until it reaches a first predetermined value. When the regulator circuit 20 detects that V_(INT) has reached this first predetermined value, it deactivates the charge pump 18. When V_(INT) becomes unequal to the first predetermined value, or becomes equal to a second predetermined value, which together with the first predetermined value defines a predetermined voltage window that is generated with a hysteresis circuit (described below in conjunction with FIG. 3), then the regulator circuit 20 activates the charge pump 18 to again begin the generation-regulation cycle. Known charge pumps or other types of voltage generating circuits are suitable for use in the regulation circuit 16.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the regulator circuit 20 of FIG. 1. The regulator circuit 20 includes a voltage clamping circuit 22 that is coupled to a voltage divider 24. The voltage divider 24 is connected between the supply voltage V_(CC) and the voltage V_(INT) generated by the charge pump 18 (FIG. 1). A threshold detector 26 is coupled between voltage divider 24 and the voltage V_(INT) from the charge pump 18 (FIG. 1). The clamping circuit 22 acts to reduce the amount V_(INT) shifts as V_(CC) varies.

More specifically, the voltage divider 24 includes a plurality of load elements 28 that are serially coupled between the power supply voltage V_(CC) and the internally generated voltage V_(INT). As shown, the exact number of load elements 28 is not critical, as long as there are at least two. The serial coupling of the load elements 28 forms junctions or nodes 30 between consecutive pairs of adjacent load elements 28. As shown, there is one less junction than there are load elements. Terminals 32 and 34 of clamp 22 are coupled to a selected pair of junctions 30. Also, one of the terminals 32 and 34 may be coupled to a junction 30 and the other of terminals 32 and 34 may be coupled to V_(INT). One ofjunctions 30 is selected as a sense voltage terminal 36, which is coupled to an input terminal 38 of the detector 26. An output terminal 40 of the detector 26 is coupled to the control terminal 19 of the charge pump 18 (FIG. 1). Such a regulator circuit 20 is particularly suited for applications where V_(INT) is maintained at a value lower than that of V_(CC).

In operation, as V_(INT) rises, the sense voltage V_(S) at terminal 36 also rises in proportion to the ratio of the number and value of the load elements 28 that are located between terminal 36 and V_(INT) to the number and value of the load elements 28 between V_(CC) and V_(INT). As the sense voltage V_(S) rises above a predetermined value, the detector 26 detects that the sense voltage has surpassed this value, and outputs a signal at the terminal 40 to activate or "turn on" the charge pump 18. The charge pump 18 acts to lower the internal voltage V_(INT). Once voltage V_(INT) falls enough so that the sense voltage V_(S) falls below the predetermined value, the detector 26 generates a signal at terminal 40 to deactivate, ie., "turn off", the charge pump 18. In this way, the regulator circuit 20 maintains V_(INT) at a regulated value. As further explained in conjunction with FIG. 3, the detector 26 may have a hysteresis added to it such that it detects the sense voltage V_(S) passing two predetermined values, one to turn on the charge pump 18 and the second lower predetermined value to turn off the charge pump 18. Such hysteresis may, among other things, prevent oscillation of the detector/charge-pump loop around a single predetermined threshold value.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, and ignoring clamp circuit 22 for the moment, as V_(CC) increases so does sense voltage V_(S) at terminal 36. Thus, V_(INT) must be driven to a lower voltage in order for the threshold detector 26 to turn off the charge pump 18. As a result, as V_(CC) rises, the regulated value of V_(INT) falls. In order to reduce the interdependence or sensitivity between V_(CC) and V_(INT), the clamp circuit 22 is provided as discussed above. In operation, the clamp circuit prevents the voltage between terminals 32 and 34 from exceeding a predetermined clamp value. That is, the clamp circuit 22 limits the voltage between terminals 32 and 34 to the predetermined clamp value. Once this predetermined clamp voltage has been reached, the clamp circuit 22 in effect removes from divider 24 the load elements 28 that are positioned between terminals 32 and 34. This allows V_(INT) to have a greater proportional effect on the sense voltage V_(S) at terminal 36. Thus, charge pump 18 need not drive V_(INT) as low to trip the detector 265 than it would need to if the clamp circuit 22 were omitted.

Although, as stated above, the terminals 32 and 34 may be coupled between any pair of junctions 30 or between a junction 30 and voltage V_(INT), a preferred embodiment of the invention is to have terminals 32 and 34 coupled to any pair ofjunctions 30 that are positioned between terminal 36 and voltage V_(INT) inclusive, i.e., including the junction coupled to terminal 36 and the terminal of the load element 28_(n) that is coupled to V_(INT).

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of the voltage regulator circuit 20 of FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the regulator circuit 20 is used to regulate a back bias voltage V_(BB) to back bias a substrate (FIG. 4) of the circuit incorporating the regulator circuit 20. As is known in the art, such back biasing provides benefits such as setting the thresholds of the transistors formed in the substrate. As shown, the clamp circuit 22 is formed from a pair of serially coupled diode-connected FET transistors 42 and 44. The voltage divider 24 includes three serially connected load elements 28₁, 28₂, and 28₃. Although it is shown as a single resistor, load element 28₁ may be formed from multiple load elements of other types such as diode-connected, long-channel FETs. Load element 28₂ is formed from a diode-connected FET 46, and load element 28₃ is formed from a long-channel FET 48. As shown, clamp circuit 22 is coupled across, i.e., in parallel with, long-channel transistor 48. The gates, drains, and sources of transistors 42, 44, 46, and 48 are labeled G, D, and S, respectively.

Threshold detector 26 includes a power-supply terminal 50 and a reference terminal 52. A load device 54, which, although shown as a single resistor, may be made up of one or more other types of load elements such as one or more transistors, is coupled between a terminal 50 and the drain terminal of an FET 56. The gate and source of the transistor 56 are respectively coupled to the input terminal 38 and a reference terminal 52. Three inverters 58a-c are serially coupled between the drain of the transistor 56 and the output terminal 40. Although three inverters 58a-c are shown, any odd number of inverters may be used. The gate of an FET 60 is coupled to output terminal 40. The source and drain of the transistor 60 are respectively coupled to a reference terminal 52 and the source of an FET 62. The gate and drain of the FET 62 are respectively coupled to the input terminal 38 and the drain of the transistor 56. The combination of the inverters 58 and the transistors 60 and 62 form a hysteresis circuit 64. In one aspect of the invention, the gate of transistor 60 is the hysteresis-circuit input terminal, the gate of transistor 62 is the hysteresis-circuit control terminal, and the drain of transistor 62 is the hysteresis-circuit drive terminal. As discussed above for circuits 22 and 24, the gates, drains, and sources of the transistors 56, 60, and 62 are respectively labeled G, D, and S. In another aspect of the invention, the hysteresis circuit 64 is omitted, and the drain of transistor 56 may be coupled directly to the output terminal 40.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, V_(CC) is approximately between 3 and 6 volts, VBB is regulated to approximately between -1 and -2 volts, and V_(REF) is approximately ground or zero volts. However, different voltages may be used as long as V_(REF) is between V_(CC) and V_(BB). Furthermore, load elements 28₁, and 54 have approximate impedance values of 2 megohm and 200 kilaohms, respectively. The width-to-length ratios of transistors 42, 44, 46, 48, 56, 60, and 62 are approximately 6 microns/1 micron, 6/1, 2/2, 216.5, 611.5, 6/1, and 6/1, respectively.

In operation, as voltage V_(BB) rises, the sense voltage V_(S) at the terminal 36 of the voltage divider 24 also rises. When the sense voltage V_(S) is approximately the threshold voltage of the transistor 56 above V_(REF), the transistor 56 turns on, i.e., conducts. As the sense voltage V_(S) increases further, the transistor 56 becomes saturated and thus drives the voltage at its drain to approximately V_(REF). The voltage at the drain of the transistor 56 is considered a logic low, which propagates through inverters 58 such that inverter 58c generates a logic high at terminal 40. This logic high voltage activates the charge pump 18, which begins to drive voltage V_(BB) to a lower level. The logic high at terminal 40 also turns on the transistor 60, and the sense voltage V_(S) turns on the transistor 62. Thus, the transistors 60 and 62, which are driven at or near saturation, reinforce the voltage V_(REF) that appears at the drain of the transistor 56. That is, the transistors 60 and 62 provide hysteresis to the detector 26, such that sense voltage V_(S) must fall to a value lower than that at which it turned on transistor 56 in order for detector 26 to output a logic low to shut off the charge pump 18. Thus, the hysteresis loop in effect forms a threshold window with upper and lower predetermined values. When the sense voltage V_(S) increases above the upper, i.e., first predetermined value, the detector 26 turns on the charge pump 18, and when the sense voltage V_(S) falls below the lower, i.e., second predetermined value, the detector 26 turns off the charge pump 18. In this way, the regulator circuit 20 maintains voltage V_(BB) within a predetermined range that can be adjusted by varying the threshold window of the detector 26.

In order to reduce the sensitivity between V_(CC) and both the sense voltage V_(S) and V_(BB), the clamp circuit 22 is coupled across the long channel transistor 48. Because the clamp circuit 22 includes two serially coupled diode-connected transistors 42, 44, the clamping voltage will be approximately the sum of the thresholds of the transistors 42 and 44. In one aspect of the invention, the clamping voltage provided by the clamp circuit 22 is approximately between 1 and 2 volts. As the voltage across the transistor 48 increases above the clamping voltage, the clamp circuit 22 maintains the voltage across transistor 48 at a substantially constant value, and reduces or eliminates the affect of the resistance formed by the transistor 48. Thus, with only the resistance of the transistor 46 effectively between V_(BB) and the sense voltage, a change in V_(BB) will result in a larger proportionate change in the sense voltage V_(S). Therefore, as V_(CC) increases beyond a certain level, the clamp circuit 22 clamps the voltage across the transistor 48, and allows the regulator circuit 20 to maintain V_(BB) at a higher value than it could without the clamp circuit 22. That is, for changes in V_(CC), the clamp circuit 22 reduces or eliminates the corresponding variations in V_(BB). Therefore, the regulator circuit 20 can maintain V_(BB) at a more constant level.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an n-channel FET transistor 65 formed in a p substrate 66. The transistor 65 includes a conductive gate 68, a gate insulator or dielectric 70, a drain 72, and a source 74. By biasing the substrate 66 to a negative voltage with respect to the source 74, the threshold of the transistor 65 can be adjusted. Additionally, other known benefits can also be obtained. For an n substrate containing a p-channel transistor (both not shown), the back bias voltage would be positive.

FIG. 5 is a graph of a computer simulation that plots the output of the detector 26 (shown in solid line) with the clamp circuit 22 present and the output of the detector 26 (shown in broken line) with the clamp circuit 22 omitted versus V_(BB) for V_(CC) =2.5 volts. As shown, with the clamp circuit 22 present, the regulator circuit 20 turns off the charge pump 18 when V_(BB) falls to approximately -1.1 volts, and turns on the charge pump when V_(BB) rises to approximately -0.7 volts. With the clamp circuit 22 not present, the regulator circuit 20 turns off the charge pump 18 when V_(BB) is approximately -1.2 volts and turns on the charge pump 18 when V_(BB) is approximately -0.8 volts.

Referring to FIG. 6, a similar graph to that shown in FIG. 5 is shown for V_(CC) =4 volts. As shown, with the clamp circuit 22 installed, the regulator circuit 20 turns off the charge pump 18 when V_(BB) is approximately -1.3 volts, and turns on the charge pump 18 when V_(BB) is approximately -1.1 volts. With the clamp circuit 22 removed, the regulator circuit 20 turns off the charge pump 18 when V_(BB) is approximately -1.7 volts and turns on the charge pump when V_(BB) is approximately -1.4 volts.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is evident that the two trip points, i.e., charge pump off, charge pump on, for the regulator circuit 20 incorporating the clamp circuit 22 have changed -0.2 and -0.4 volts, respectively, from VCC=2.5 volts to V_(CC) =4 volts. For the regulator circuit 20 omitting the clamp circuit 22, the differences in the off and on trip points are -0.5 and -0.6 volts. Thus, the clamp circuit 22 significantly reduces the shifting of V_(BB) with changes in V_(CC).

It will also be evident that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the n-channel transistors may be substituted with p-channel transistors or bipolar transistors. 

I claim:
 1. A voltage regulator, comprising:a supply terminal; a reference, terminal; a regulated-voltage terminal; a voltage divider coupled between said supply terminal and said regulated-voltage terminal, said divider having a divider output terminal; a voltage clamp coupled across a portion of said divider; and a threshold detector having a first input terminal coupled to said divider output terminal, a second input terminal coupled to said reference terminal, and a detector output terminal.
 2. The voltage regulator of claim 1 wherein:said voltage divider comprises,impedance elements that are serially coupled between said supply and regulated-voltage terminals, nodes that are disposed between adjacent ones of said elements, and said divider output terminal coupled to one of said nodes; and said voltage clamp comprises,a first terminal that is coupled to one said nodes, and a second terminal that is coupled to one of said nodes or to said regulated-voltage terminal.
 3. The voltage regulator of claim 1 herein said voltage clamp comprises a diode-coupled transistor.
 4. The voltage regulator of claim 1 wherein said threshold detector comprises:a transistor having a control terminal coupled to said first input terminal, a first transistor terminal coupled to said second input terminal, and a second transistor terminal coupled to said detector output terminal; and an impedance element coupled between said supply terminal and said second transistor terminal.
 5. The voltage regulator of claim 1 wherein said threshold detector comprises:a first transistor having a control terminal coupled to said first input terminal, a first transistor terminal coupled to said second input terminal, and a second transistor terminal; an impedance element coupled between said supply terminal and said second transistor terminal; an inverter coupled between said second transistor terminal and said detector output terminal; a second transistor having a control terminal coupled to said first input terminal, a first transistor terminal, and a second transistor terminal coupled to said second transistor terminal of said first transistor; and a third transistor having a control terminal coupled to said detector output terminal, a first transistor terminal coupled to said second input terminal, and a second transistor terminal coupled to said first transistor terminal of said second transistor.
 6. A circuit, comprising:first and second supply terminals; a reference terminal; a voltage generator having a generator control terminal and a regulated-voltage output terminal; a voltage divider coupled between said first supply terminal and said regulated-voltage output terminal, said divider having a divider output terminal; a voltage limiter coupled across a section of said divider; and a threshold detector having an input terminal coupled to said divider output terminal, a power terminal coupled to said second supply terminal, and a detector output terminal coupled to said generator control terminal.
 7. The circuit of claim 6 wherein:said voltage divider comprises,impedance elements that are serially coupled between said first supply and regulated-voltage output terminals, nodes that are disposed between adjacent ones of said elements, and said divider output terminal coupled to one of said nodes; and said voltage limiter comprises,a first terminal that is coupled to one said nodes, and a second terminal that is coupled to one of said nodes or to said regulated-voltage output terminal.
 8. The circuit of claim 6 wherein said voltage limiter comprises a diode.
 9. A memory device, comprising:address, data, and control busses; a control circuit coupled to said address, data, and control busses; an array of memory cells coupled to said control circuit; a supply node; a reference node; a voltage generator having a generator control node and a regulated-voltage output node; a voltage divider coupled between said supply node and said regulated-voltage output node, said divider having a divider output node; a voltage limiter coupled across a section of said divider; and a threshold detector having a first input node terminal coupled to said divider output node, a second input node coupled to said reference node, and a detector output node coupled to said generator control node.
 10. The circuit of claim 9 wherein:said voltage divider comprises,impedance elements that are serially coupled between said supply and regulated-voltage output nodes, intermediate nodes that are disposed between adjacent ones of said elements, and said divider output node coupled to one of said intermediate nodes; and said voltage limiter comprises,a first node that is coupled to one said intermediate nodes, and a second node that is coupled to one of said intermediate nodes or to said regulated-voltage output node.
 11. The circuit of claim 9 wherein said voltage limiter comprises a diode.
 12. A method, comprising:generating intermediate voltages having values that lie between the respective values of a first voltage and a second voltage; prohibiting a difference between two voltages from a group including said intermediate voltages and said second voltage from exceeding a first predetermined value; and maintaining said second voltage within a predetermined voltage range in response to a predetermined one of said intermediate voltages.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said prohibiting comprises clamping said difference to said first predetermined value.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said maintaining comprises:reducing said second voltage when said predetermined intermediate voltage is greater than a second predetermined value; and prohibiting said reducing when said predetermined intermediate voltage is less than said second predetermined value.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein said maintaining comprises:reducing said second voltage when said predetermined intermediate voltage is greater than a second predetermined value; and prohibiting said reducing when said predetermined intermediate voltage is less than a third predetermined value that is less than said second predetermined value.
 16. The method of claim 12 wherein said prohibiting comprises prohibiting a difference between one of said intermediate voltages and said second voltage from exceeding said first predetermined value.
 17. The method of claim 12 wherein said maintaining comprises:activating a voltage generator when said predetermined intermediate voltage is greater than a second predetermined value to shift said second voltage toward said predetermined voltage range; and deactivating said voltage generator when said predetermined intermediate voltage is less than said second predetermined value.
 18. The method of claim 12 wherein said maintaining comprises:activating a voltage generator when said predetermined intermediate voltage is greater than a second predetermined value to pump said second voltage toward said predetermined voltage range; and deactivating said voltage generator when said predetermined intermediate voltage is less than a third predetermined value that is less than said second predetermined value. 